“Labour fails to even mention electoral reform in its Manifesto
18 days to Polling Day
Electoral reform omission from Labour manifesto a 'bitter disappointment,' says Make Votes Matter Co-Chief Executive Joe Sousek
Statement released following publication of the Labour Party manifesto:
Joe Sousek, Co-Chief Executive of Make Votes Matter, said: "Labour's failure to even mention electoral reform in its manifesto is a bitter disappointment to the many members and voters who understand First Past the Post is hopelessly unfit for the 21st century. The UK desperately needs Proportional Representation for the House of Commons - so all votes count equally and seats match votes.
"This election will be defined by electoral pacts and tactical voting as parties and voters struggle to overcome the inequities of First Past the Post. By refusing to acknowledge this elephant in the polling booth, Labour appears out of touch when it comes to democracy.
"The promise of a Constitutional Convention is a glimmer of hope, but a faint one given the party's track record of obstructing and breaking clear promises to reform the voting system. Whatever the outcome of this election, Labour members and the public must make clear it's time for real change in our democracy, which means bringing in a voting system for the many, not the few."
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS said:
Make Votes Matter report as follows:
On Wednesday, the Liberal Democrats made as cast-iron a pledge for Proportional Representation as you might care to imagine.
After rather cheekily describing themselves as "the only party that realises the system is broken", the Lib Dems set out their long standing support for Proportional Representaton through their preferred system.
Keen electoral system watchers will know that the Single Transferable Vote is, of course, a 'good' system of Proportional Representation.
The Good Systems Agreement is there not to replace system preferences, but to find common ground between them. So it's great to see another unequivocal - if unsurprising - promise to fix our broken voting system!
Liberal Democrats say we desperately need Proportional Representation, so all votes count equally & seats match votes.
By Voting to get Liberal Democrat MPs elected you will help to make this happen.
ENDS